Mexico Achieves Bean Self-Sufficiency, Expands Program

Mexico has reached self-sufficiency after increasing support to more than 96,000 producers and boosting output to 1.2Mt, with Zacatecas at the center of production and new infrastructure aimed at strengthening supply chains and price stability.

In Sombrerete, Zacatecas, Claudia Sheinbaum announced that Mexico achieved food self-sufficiency in beans, driven by expanded government support and increased production. The announcement followed the inauguration of the Beatriz González Ortega bean packaging plant, which will process more than 1,400t/month. The facility is expected to add value to production through cleaning, polishing and packaging, with distribution through more than 26,000 Well-Being Stores nationwide.

According to Julio Berdegué, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), production reached 1.2Mt in 2025, surpassing the government’s target of 1Mt. The Plan de Autosuficiencia de Frijol (Bean Self-Sufficiency Plan) will support 110,497 producers with up to 10ha across Zacatecas, Durango and Nayarit, with 18,000 farmers in Zacatecas receiving improved seeds expected to increase yields by up to 42%.

The government is also expanding procurement mechanisms to stabilize prices and eliminate intermediaries. The Alimentación para el Bienestar (Food for Well-Being) program purchases beans directly from producers and distributes them nationwide. Sheinbaum said authorities will define adjustments to the guaranteed price following a budget review, after producers reported market prices as low as MX$7/kg. Officials aim to sustain a guaranteed price of MX$27/kg.

María Luisa Albores, Director, Food for Well-Being, said Zacatecas remains the country’s main bean producer, with Sombrerete leading output. The new plant will package beans under the national label Zacatecas Cosecha de Nuestra Tierra (Zacatecas harvest of our land), including varieties such as San Luis black and Pinto Saltillo.

The procurement program in Zacatecas exceeded 90,000t, and recently expanded to 96,000t, representing a record for the state and improving market access for producers. However, the expansion comes amid tensions, as some farmers have protested exclusion from the program and demanded additional support to commercialize more than 4,000t of stored grain.

Producer groups have maintained demonstrations in the state capital for over 10 days, supported by social organizations and teachers’ unions, calling for fair prices and broader access to procurement programs. Negotiations between authorities and producers have yet to reach an agreement, with further actions anticipated if demands are not met.

Beyond production, the government is promoting bean consumption as part of a broader food security strategy. Officials highlighted that consumption has declined despite beans’ nutritional value and cultural relevance. Mexico is considered a center of origin for beans, with 57 of the 150 known species present in the country, including 31 endemic varieties.

The administration is also linking bean production to broader agricultural policy through Alimentación para el Bienestar, which supports supply chains for products such as cocoa, honey, corn and wheat. The strategy combines direct support, seed distribution and infrastructure investment to strengthen domestic production and reduce reliance on imports.